Jet regulator

ABSTRACT

A jet regulator ( 1 ) having a jet regulator housing ( 4 ) including a housing part ( 5 ) having a sleeve-shaped housing wall ( 7 ), the sleeve interior of the housing part ( 5 ) being integrally connected to a jet fractionater ( 8 ) oriented transverse to the flow direction and including a plurality of flow-through openings ( 9 ) for dividing the inflowing water flow into a plurality of individual streams, a screen ( 11 ) being releasably supported in the sub-region ( 10 ) of the sleeve interior separated by the jet fractionater ( 9 ) on the inflow side. The jet regulator ( 1 ) according to the invention is characterized in that an external thread ( 12 ) is provided on the external circumference of the section ( 7 ) of the housing wall ( 7 ) bounding the inflow side sub-region ( 10 ) of the sleeve interior. This external thread ( 12 ) is provided in a section of the jet regulator housing ( 4 ) that is not particularly exposed to the water pressure and therefore can be designed having relatively thin walls, and in which no further insertion parts that could further constrict the flow-through cross-section are to be received as a rule in the jet regulator housing ( 4 ).

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a jet regulator having a jet regulator housing which has a housing part with a sleeve-shaped housing wall, which housing part, in the sleeve interior thereof, is integrally connected to a jet fractionater which is oriented transversely with respect to the direction of flow and has a plurality of flow-through openings for dividing the incoming water flow into a plurality of individual jets.

Jet regulators are already known in different designs. Such jet regulators are mounted on the outlet end of a sanitary outlet fitting in order to generate a homogeneous, non-spraying and, where applicable, also bubbling soft water jet.

Thus, a jet regulator of the aforementioned type which has a jet regulator housing with an upstream first housing part and a downstream second housing part is already known. The housing parts, which can be releasably connected together, have a sleeve-shaped housing wall. In this case, the upstream first housing part is integrally connected in the sleeve interior thereof to a jet fractionater which is oriented transversely with respect to the direction of flow and has a plurality of flow-through openings which are to divide the incoming water stream into a corresponding plurality of individual jets. An attachment screen, which is to hold back the particles of dirt possibly entrained by the water before said particles of dirt could otherwise lead to operation-impairing deposits in the interior of the jet regulator, is releasably held in the upstream part region of the sleeve interior which is divided off from the jet fractionater and slightly protrudes over the jet fractionater plane. The previously known jet regulator is insertable as far as up to an annular flange, which protrudes on the outside of the first housing part, into an outlet mouth piece which can be releasably mounted by means of a screw connection at the outlet end of a sanitary outlet fitting.

Such an outlet mouth piece, however, has to be produced separately from the outlet fitting at considerable expenditure, but finished in the same color. In spite of this, such an outlet mouth piece is always recognizable as a separate component by a circumferential annular gap in which contamination is able to accumulate.

Consequently, jet regulators which, on the outer circumference of the jet regulator housings thereof, carry an external thread which can be screwed into an internal thread on the inner circumference of the outlet fitting in such a manner that the jet regulator is arranged almost completely in the outlet end of the sanitary outlet fitting, have also been created.

However, it is disadvantageous that in the case of the jet regulators which can be mounted at the outlet end of a sanitary outlet fitting, the external thread, the housing circumferential wall and, where applicable, also the circumferential walls of the insert parts which can be inserted into the jet regulator housing have to be accommodated over a comparatively small cross section such that the sectional area of flow in the case of such jet regulators is narrowed in such a manner that the outside diameter of the emerging water jet appears disproportionately small in comparison to the substantially larger outside diameter of the jet regulator housing. In particular in the case of high-value outlet fittings, the aesthetics are severely spoiled by the clear difference in the outer dimensions of the water jet, on the one hand, and of the fitting outlet end, on the other.

SUMMARY

Consequently, it is the object, in particular, to create a jet regulator of the aforementioned type which can be releasably mounted in the outlet end of a sanitary outlet fitting and which, in comparison with the outer dimensions of the jet regulator, is nevertheless distinguished by a large sectional area of flow.

The achievement of said object as claimed in the invention in the case of the jet regulator of the aforementioned type is, in particular, that an external thread is provided on the outside circumference of the portion of the housing wall defining the upstream part region of the sleeve interior.

The jet regulator as claimed in the invention has a single-part or multi-part jet regulator housing with at least one housing part. The at least one housing part which has a sleeve-shaped housing wall, is, in the sleeve interior thereof, integrally connected to a jet fractionater which is oriented transversely with respect to the direction of flow and which has a plurality of through-flow openings which divide the incoming water stream into a plurality of individual jets. An external thread is provided on the outside circumference of the portion of the housing wall defining the upstream part region of the sleeve interior, by way of which external thread, the jet regulator as claimed in the invention can be releasably fastened on an internal thread which is provided on the inner circumference of the outlet fitting. Said external thread is provided in a portion of the jet regulator housing which can be developed in a comparatively thin-walled manner.

It can be expedient when an attachment screen and/or a flow regulator is held in particular so as to be releasable in the upstream part region of the sleeve interior which is divided up by the jet fractionater.

In this case, a preferred further development as claimed in the invention provides that the upstream part region of the sleeve interior is dimensioned for the complete accommodation of the attachment screen and/or of the flow regulator in such a manner that the upstream end circumferential edge of the jet regulator housing forms the upstream closure of the unit including the jet regulator and attachment screen and/or flow regulator. In the case of said further developing embodiment, the external thread can be arranged in a portion of the housing wall protruding upstream over the jet fractionater.

It is expedient when the jet regulator has at least one axial and/or at least one radial annular seal for sealing the space provided between the jet regulator outer circumference and the inner circumference of a sanitary outlet fitting. So that the space remaining between the jet regulator outer circumference and the inner circumference of the outlet fitting is unable to allow through any unwanted leakage flows to impair the jet pattern, at least one axial and/or at least one radial annular seal is provided.

In the case of a design as claimed in the invention, it is provided for this purpose that at least one groove for the accommodation of a preferably radially effective sealing ring is arranged on the outer circumference of the regulator housing. In addition to this or instead of it, a sealing ring, which seals between the jet regulator and an annular shoulder provided on the inner circumference of a sanitary outlet fitting, is provided for axial sealing.

Another design as claimed in the invention provides that the axially effective sealing ring rests on the upstream end circumferential edge of the jet regulator. Instead of this, however, it can also be expedient when the axially effective sealing ring is supported in the upstream sleeve interior and projects over the upstream end circumferential edge of the jet regulator housing.

In order to be able to release the screw connection between the jet regulator and the outlet fitting, it is advantageous when at least one tool contact surface for a rotary tool is provided on the downstream end edge and/or on the outer circumference of the jet regulator housing and/or on the downstream end face of the jet regulator housing.

In this case, a particularly advantageous design as claimed in the invention which can be produced with little expenditure provides that housing moldings, which serve as tool contact surfaces for a rotary tool, are provided preferably spaced apart from each other in a regular manner on the outer circumference of the jet regulator housing. It is also possible to provide, on the downstream end face of the jet regulator housing a, for example, slot-shaped tool contact surface, into which a coin serving as a rotary tool can be inserted by way of the narrow circumferential edge thereof in a manner similar to a screw driver.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features of the invention are produced from the claims and the description in conjunction with the drawing. The invention is described below by way of preferred exemplary embodiments, in which, in detail:

FIG. 1 shows a jet regulator represented in a part longitudinal section according to the sectional plane I-I from FIG. 2, the jet regulator housing of which has an upstream housing part with a sleeve-shaped housing wall, which upstream housing part is integrally connected to a jet fractionater which is oriented transversely to the direction of flow and divides off an upstream part region of the sleeve interior, wherein an external thread is provided on the outside circumference of the housing wall defining the upstream part region, and wherein a sealing ring (not shown in FIG. 1) is clamped between the jet regulator and an annular shoulder provided on the inner circumference of the outlet fitting,

FIG. 2 shows a top view onto the upstream end face of the jet regulator from FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows the jet regulator mounted by way of the external thread, provided on the outside circumference, in an internal thread on the outlet end of a sanitary outlet fitting from FIGS. 1 and 2 directly prior to mounting a rotary tool, which is also shown but represented separately,

FIG. 4 shows a part longitudinal section of the jet regulator from FIGS. 1 to 3 mounted releasably on the outlet end of a sanitary outlet fitting, wherein the rotary tool for rotating the jet regulator in the outlet end is already mounted on the jet regulator,

FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal section of a detail of the jet regulator from FIGS. 1 to 4 in the region of the annular seal arranged between the jet regulator and the annular shoulder provided on the inner circumference of the outlet fitting,

FIG. 6 shows a longitudinally sectioned and exploded representation of the outlet end of the sanitary outlet fitting, the jet regulator from FIGS. 1 to 5 and the associated rotary tool,

FIG. 7 shows a jet regulator, comparable to FIGS. 1 to 6, in an embodiment where a radially effective annular seal is inserted into an annular groove provided on the outer circumference of the jet regulator housing,

FIG. 8 shows a top view onto the upstream end face of the jet regulator from FIG. 7,

FIG. 9 shows the jet regulator from FIGS. 7 and 8 mounted in the outlet end of a sanitary outlet fitting directly prior to mounting a rotary tool which is also shown, but is represented separately,

FIG. 10 shows a part longitudinal section of the jet regulator from FIGS. 7 to 9 mounted releasably on the outlet end of a sanitary outlet fitting, wherein the rotary tool for rotating the jet regulator located in the outlet end is already mounted on the jet regulator,

FIG. 11 shows a longitudinally sectioned and exploded representation of the outlet end of the sanitary outlet fitting, the jet regulator from FIGS. 7 to 10 and the associated rotary tool,

FIG. 12 shows a cross section through the cutting plane XII-XII in FIG. 7 of the jet regulator from FIGS. 7 to 11,

FIG. 13 shows a perspective view onto the outlet end face of the jet regulator from FIGS. 7 to 12, wherein the representation, partially broken open at the end, exposes the view of the downstream side of a jet fractionater developed in the form of a perforated plate,

FIG. 14 shows a part longitudinal section in the cutting plane XIV-XIV from FIG. 15 of an embodiment comparable with the jet regulators from FIGS. 1 to 13, where an axially effective sealing ring is supported in the upstream sleeve interior and protrudes over the upstream end circumferential edge of the jet regulator housing,

FIG. 15 shows a top view onto the upstream end face of the jet regulator from FIG. 14,

FIG. 16 shows the jet regulator from FIGS. 14 and 15 mounted, by way of the external thread provided on the outer circumference, in an internal thread on the outlet end of a sanitary outlet fitting directly prior to the mounting of a rotary tool which is represented separately,

FIG. 17 shows a part longitudinal section of the jet regulator from FIGS. 14 to 16 releasably mounted on the outlet end of a sanitary outlet fitting by means of a screw connection, wherein the rotary tool for rotating the jet regulator is already mounted on the jet regulator,

FIG. 18 shows a longitudinal section of a detail of the jet regulator from FIGS. 14 to 17 in the region of the sealing ring which is supported in the upstream sleeve interior and protrudes over the upstream end circumferential edge of the jet regulator and

FIG. 19 shows a part longitudinally sectioned, exploded representation of the outlet end of the sanitary outlet fitting, the jet regulator from FIGS. 14 to 18 and the associated rotary tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 to 19 show a jet regulator 1 in three different design variants. The jet regulator 1, which can be mounted on the outlet end 2 of a sanitary outlet fitting 3 in order to form a homogeneous, non-spraying and where applicable also bubbling soft water jet, has a jet regulator housing 4 which is developed here with multiple parts. The jet regulator housing 4 has an upstream housing part and a downstream housing part 5, 6 which can be locked together or otherwise can be connected together in a releasable manner. The upstream housing part 5 has a sleeve-shaped housing wall 7. The housing part 5 is integrally connected in the sleeve interior thereof to a jet fractionater 8 which is oriented transversely with respect to the direction of flow. Said jet fractionater 8 which is realized here as a perforated plate, but could also be developed as a diffusor, has a plurality of through-flow openings 9 which are to divide the incoming water stream into a plurality of individual jets in such a manner that on the downstream side of the jet fractionater 8 negative pressure is generated which serves for suctioning in surrounding air and for aerating the water stream flowing through. An attachment screen 11 is releasably held in the upstream part region 10 of the sleeve interior which is divided off from the jet fractionater 8.

From a comparison of the design variants shown in FIGS. 1 to 19, it becomes clear that an external thread 12 is provided on the outside circumference of the portion 7′ of the housing wall 7 defining the upstream part region 10 of the sleeve interior. This external thread 12 begins directly below the upstream end edge 13 of the jet regulator housing 4. By way of the external thread 12, the jet regulator 1 can be releasably fastened on an internal thread 14 provided on the inner circumference of the outlet fitting 3. In this case, the external thread 12 is provided in a portion of the jet regulator housing 4, which can be developed in a comparatively thin-walled manner. In this case, the upstream part region 10 of the sleeve interior is intended for the complete accommodation of the attachment screen 11, which here is cone-shaped, in such a manner that the upstream end circumferential edge 13 of the jet regulator housing 4 forms the upstream closure of the unit which consists of the jet regulator 1 and the attachment screen 11.

A comparison of the design variants represented in FIGS. 1 to 19 shows that the jet regulator 1, for sealing the space provided between the jet regulator outer circumference and the inner circumference of the sanitary outlet fitting 3, has axial or radial annular seals which, where applicable, can be used in a selective manner. In this case, a groove 16 is provided on the outer circumference of the jet regulator housing 4 for the accommodation of a radially effective sealing ring 17. Whilst the design variants shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 and 12 to 17 do not carry such a sealing ring 17 in the groove 16, in the case of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 to 11, a sealing ring 17, which is to seal in a radial manner, is inserted into the groove 16. In this case, the groove 16 is provided above the jet fractionater 8 in the portion 7′ of the housing wall 7 separated off from said jet fractionater.

In the case of the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 and 14 to 19, a sealing ring 18 or 19, which seals between the jet regulator 1 and an annular shoulder 20 provided on the inner circumference of the sanitary outlet fitting 3, is provided for axial sealing. As such an annular shoulder is missing in the case of the outlet fitting 3 shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, the jet regulator shown in FIGS. 7 to 13 relies on a radial seal. In the case of the design variants shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the axially effective sealing ring 18 rests on the upstream end circumferential edge 13 of the jet regulator housing 4 and is clamped between the end circumferential edge 13 and the annular shoulder 20. In contrast, in the case of the design variants shown in FIGS. 14 to 19, a sealing ring 19, which is supported in the upstream part region 10 of the sleeve interior and which protrudes over the upstream end circumferential edge 13 of the jet regulator housing 4, is provided for axial sealing.

From a comparison of the jet regulator designs shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, it also becomes clear that the part region of the housing interior provided between the jet fractionater 8 and the attachment screen 11 can be dimensioned such that, where required, it is possible to connect here a flow regulator 30 shown in FIG. 1 which is to limit and control the water volume flowing through per unit time to a fixed value independent of the water pressure present in a regional and/or current manner.

In FIGS. 3, 4, 6, 9 to 11 and 16, 17, as well as 19, it becomes clear that at least one tool contact face for a rotary tool 21 is provided on the outer circumference of the jet regulator housing 4. To this end, housing moldings 22, which are spaced apart from each other in a regular manner and serve as tool contact faces for the rotary tool 21, are provided on the outer circumference of the jet regulator housing 4. The rotary tool 21, which has a sleeve-shaped part region, has, on the end edge region of said sleeve-shaped part region or on the inner circumference, recesses 23 into which the housing moldings 22, which frame the aeration openings 31 in the jet regulator housing 4 and in particular in the housing part 6 thereof, (and into which the housing moldings 22) can engage during the rotating of the jet regulator 1.

In order to be able to transfer the force applied onto the housing part 6 by means of the rotary tool 21 also onto the housing part 5 that carries the external thread 12, the housing parts 5, 6 are connected together in a non-rotatable manner. It is true that a non-rotatable connection of this type can also be achieved by welding the housing parts 5, 6,—however, the embodiment shown in more detail in FIGS. 12 and 13 is preferred where the housing parts 5, 6 are certainly connected together in a non-rotatable manner, but are nevertheless releasable. It becomes clear from FIGS. 12 and 13 that, to this end, anti-rotation elements 32 can protrude on the one housing part 5 and engage in anti-rotation recesses 33 which cooperate therewith, thus releasably locking the housing parts 5, 6 together.

Whilst the anti-rotation elements 32 provided on the housing part 5 each have dovetail-like tongues on the outside, the anti-rotation recesses 33 arranged on the inner circumference of the housing part 6 and provided in the region of the housing moldings 22 are developed here in each case as a dovetailed groove.

The locking of the housing parts 5, 6, shown in more detail in FIGS. 12 and 13 and also effective in the circumferential direction, is important in order to make the two housing parts 5, 6 torsion-proof, which is required when the rotary tool engages in the downstream housing part 6 and here, for example, in the housing moldings 22 in order to be able to release or fasten the jet regulator 1 in an outlet fitting.

In contrast, FIGS. 16, 17 and 19 show in more detail that the rotary tool 21, by way of its recesses 23 provided on the end edge region, can cooperate with housing moldings 22′ protruding on the outer circumference of the housing part 5 and realized here in a lug-shaped manner such that the torque can be transferred from the rotary tool 21 via the housing part 6 directly onto the external thread 12, as a result of which welding of the housing parts 5, 6 or the locking with circumferential torsional rigidity described above with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13 is not necessary on account of the tongue and groove positioning.

The above-described exemplary embodiments show that different systems are possible in order to be able to mount and remove the jet regulator 1 on and from the sanitary outlet fitting by means of a rotary tool 21. Whilst, for example, the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 16, 17 and 19 provides for the engagement of the rotary tool 21 directly on the housing part 5, the rotary tool in the case of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 cooperates with the housing moldings 22 on the outer circumference of the housing part 6.

It is a particular advantage of the jet regulator designs shown here that the housing parts 5, 6 and the elements provided on the outer circumference thereof and in particular the housing wall of the housing part 6 are pulled apart axially in such a manner that the housing moldings 22, which are provided on the outer circumference of the housing part 6 and are realized in this case in a rib-shaped manner, and which hold the housing wall of the housing part 6 in such a manner at a spacing from the inside circumference of the fitting that a aeration channel can be formed leading to the aeration openings 31, can abut directly against the fitting inside circumference of the outlet fitting. Through the axially-pulled-apart method of construction of the jet regulator designs shown here, the penetration of water and consequently the outer circumference of the emerging water jet is enlarged in comparison with the inside width of the outlet fitting, which produces a considerably more elegantly proportioned overall appearance of the outlet fitting and the emerging water jet as the differences in diameter occurring between the emerging water jet, on the one hand, the fitting outlet on the other, are only comparatively small. 

1. A jet regulator (1) comprising a jet regulator housing (4) which has a housing part (5) with a sleeve-shaped housing wall (7), said housing part (5), in a sleeve interior thereof, is integrally connected to a jet fractionater (8) which is oriented transversely with respect to a direction of flow and has a plurality of flow-through openings (9) for dividing an incoming water flow into a plurality of individual jets, an external thread (12) is provided on an outside circumference of a portion (7′) of the housing wall (7) defining an upstream part region (10) of the sleeve interior.
 2. The jet regulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of an attachment screen (11) or a flow regulator (30) is held in the upstream part region (10) of the sleeve interior which is divided up by the jet fractionater (8).
 3. The jet regulator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the upstream part region (10) of the sleeve interior is dimensioned for complete accommodation of the at least one of the attachment screen (11) or the flow regulator (30) in such a manner that an upstream end circumferential edge (13) of the jet regulator housing (4) forms an upstream closure of a unit formed of the jet regulator (1) and the at least one of the attachment screen (11) or the flow regulator (30).
 4. The jet regulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the jet regulator (1) has at least one of an axial or at least one radial annular seal (17; 18, 19) for sealing a space provided between the jet regulator outer circumference and an inner circumference of a sanitary outlet fitting.
 5. The jet regulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one groove (16) for accommodation of a sealing ring (17) is provided on an outer circumference of the jet regulator housing (4).
 6. The jet regulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein a sealing ring (18; 19), which seals between the jet regulator (1) and an annular shoulder (20) provided on an inner circumference of a sanitary outlet fitting (3), is provided for axial sealing.
 7. The jet regulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein an axially effective sealing ring (18) rests on an upstream end circumferential edge (13) of the jet regulator housing (4).
 8. The jet regulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein an axially effective sealing ring (18) is supported in the upstream sleeve interior and projects over an upstream end circumferential edge (13) of the jet regulator housing (4).
 9. The jet regulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one tool contact surface for a rotary tool (21) is provided on at least one of a downstream end edge, the outer circumference of the jet regulator housing (4) or a downstream end face of the jet regulator housing (4).
 10. The jet regulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein housing moldings (22, 22′), which serve as tool contact surfaces for a rotary tool (21), are provided on the outer circumference of the jet regulator housing (4). 